Trucker's kin blame Caltrans for death plunge

The trucker: Grieving relatives point to other crashes, his safety record

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Hayward truck driver Tahir Sheikh Fakhar, 56, plummeted to his death from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge after he lost control of his big rig on the S-curve at 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2009.

Hayward truck driver Tahir Sheikh Fakhar, 56, plummeted to his death from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge after he lost control of his big rig on the S-curve at 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2009.

Trucker's kin blame Caltrans for death plunge

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The family of the trucker who plummeted from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge blamed Caltrans bridge designers Tuesday for the accident that led to the Hayward man's death.

Tahir Sheikh Fakhar, 56, was killed when his truck went over the northern side of the S-curve at 3:30 a.m. Monday and plunged 200 feet to Yerba Buena Island.

The California Highway Patrol said investigators believe Fakhar was going too fast. But his family says the detour, the scene of at least 43 accidents since it opened Sept. 8, is unsafe.

"That S-curve is too short," said Fakhar's brother Naveed Anjum, who owns a limousine service and is a former commercial truck driver. "They need to change it. But how are they going to change now?

"They need to close down this bridge and work out something. They could have made that S-curve a little bit longer, but it would cost a little bit more money. But it could have saved the life my brother lost."

The CHP says that based in part on reports from other drivers, investigators concluded that Fakhar was going 50 mph when he hit the S-curve, 10 mph over the posted speed limit. Investigators said Fakhar's cargo of Asian pears also may have shifted, which could have helped to propel the big rig over the 3-foot-high concrete railing.

Fakhar was an independent operator and longtime driver who bought his truck several months ago, authorities said. For the past eight months, he had been a subcontractor for JM&R Trucking in Oakland. He was a married father of two adult sons.

Court documents show one citation on Fakhar's driving record, a 1994 ticket issued in Fresno for driving a big rig faster than 55 mph.

Department of Motor Vehicles officials say their records also show that Fakhar was in a wreck Sept. 25, 2008, in Stockton, in which he was found to be most at fault. Stockton police and the CHP did not have details Tuesday.

Fakhar had a valid commercial license as well as a hazardous materials permit.

Anjum said his brother was always a careful driver, and he disputed the reports that Fakhar had been speeding on the S-curve.

"Me, my brother, we never smoke, we never drink, we never had any alcohol in our lives," Anjum said. "He's a safe driver. He would leave early so he would give himself extra time."

Other family members said Fakhar may not have been familiar with the S-curve.

Anjum's son, Tahir Anjum, said most of his uncle's driving consisted of cross-country trips.

"He had crossed the bridge hundreds of times, but this might have been the first time he had driven the Bay Bridge since the construction," he said.

Caltrans and the CHP both insist that the S-curve is safe and that the most important change needed is for drivers to slow down. Caltrans is installing more warning signs, reflective strips on the barriers and radar boards that flash drivers' speeds, all in an attempt to slow them down.

CHP Sgt. Trent Cross said the agency offers its condolences to the family for a "very tragic and sad incident."

"However, it is one of those things that we can all learn from," Cross said. "We want to get the message out to the public: Please, please, monitor your speed."

Cross added that the CHP and Caltrans will continue to do everything possible to protect motorists on the bridge.

Fakhar's family thinks basic structural changes should be considered.

"In 50 days, over 40 accidents - now somebody got killed," Naveed Anjum said. "What are they going to do about that?"

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